We are less than two weeks away from the series premiere of Supernatural prequel spinoff The Winchesters which sees the early stories of John and Mary, the legendary parents of hunters Sam and Dean from the long-running series. KSiteTV’s Craig Byrne had the opportunity to interview actor Drake Rodger, TV’s newest John Winchester, on that Supernatural legacy, working with folks like Jensen Ackles, and more. Enjoy, and don’t miss the series premiere Tuesday, October 11 on The CW!
KSITETV’S CRAIG BYRNE: How familiar were you with the world of Supernatural and more specifically John Winchester before you auditioned for The Winchesters?
DRAKE RODGER: I was a huge fan of the show, and honestly, I’ve always been an even bigger fan of John Winchester. For me, was also a fan of Dean, but I feel like Dean is so much mirrored off of John. But, but yeah, I was
Was it intimidating to know that this was a character that had been seen and embodied before on television?
I actually wasn’t intimidated. I think it was more that I was aware of the responsibility I was going to have. When you’re playing a character that’s been established, it presents its own difficulties, but when you’re playing a character that’s a fan favorite, and a very beloved performance of a character, there’s also a responsibility you have as an actor when you’re approaching that.
I knew the second that the audition came across the table, what I wanted to do. I knew that’s a story that I wanted to tell, and the angle that I wanted to take with the character, and so I was just more excited. As a fan of the show myself, I think people are going to like the angle that I’m taking, and if they don’t, that’s fine, too.
When you started with this role, what questions did you personally have about John Winchester?
Who was he before? When we pick up with John on Supernatural, he’s a broken, disheveled man. He talks all the time about how he never wanted this for his family, and how he never wanted this life for the boys, but it’s all he knew. So for me, it’s like, how does someone get to that point, and where did he start? What was his life when we are picking up with him at 19? What was his promise? What could he have been if fate, or God, or whatever you want to call it, hadn’t had something else designed for him.
Did you have to test with Meg Donnelly before you got the roles?
I did! I tested with Meg twice on two different occasions. She was filming High School Musical: The Musical: The Series the first time, so she was in full character wardrobe for this “summer Camp Rock girl.” They brought her back in another day and read her again, [this time] dressed a lot more like Mary.
Can you talk about some of the other characters in your group like Carlos and Latika?
John’s new to the group, but the group has already been kind of established a little bit as far as knowing each other. Carlos is kind of like the real badass hippie, very 70’s… very exuberant. He’s going to be a fan favorite character for sure and Jojo [Fleites] does a fantastic job of playing playing Carlos.
Latika is our other new addition to the show. She’s very much the brains of the operation. I feel bad – she’s got all the supernatural jargon and Latin to memorize. Nida Khurshid is doing a fantastic job playing that character, because it’s one of those things where you get monologues on monologues of medical jargon and supernatural lore jargon. I feel for her.
Is it possible that we might see other characters from Supernatural history like Bobby Singer as the show goes on?
I think it’s always possible. I think that’s the beauty of the show, really. In Supernatural, they wrote their own rules as they went, and then when those rules didn’t suit what they were doing, they rewrote them.
We have the freedom to bring back fan favorite characters. I would hope so, as a fan of the show and I would love to work with Bobby, or get to work with Crowley, or Mark Pellegrino, Jeffrey Dean Morgan… the opportunity to work with any of the original cast. If there’s any world where I could play with any of those characters, that would be incredible.
How many episodes have you shot so far?
We are starting on our fifth episode [at the time this interview was conducted.]
Supernatural was famous for the Impala car “Baby.” Can you talk about the vehicle these hunters might travel in?
As you’ve seen in the pilot, Mary’s got her little Road Runner, and then Carlos has… I don’t know that we’ve named it, [but it’s like] the Mystery Machine. We’ll see. We’re hoping eventually we’ll get Baby in there, and John will have his own car.
Since you brought up the Mystery Machine… if John was a member of the Scooby Doo gang, which one do you think you would be?
John has the misplaced bravery of Fred in comparison to the other characters with the coordination of Shaggy. One of the stories we’re trying to tell is the progression of John’s capability as a hunter, so we’re kind of starting on the opposite end of the spectrum, as as we see with the little meet-cute that Mary and I have where we ended up fighting each other more than the monster.
Can you talk about John’s relationship with his mother, who we never actually got to see in Supernatural?
Millie and John, what an interesting relationship, with John born in the 50s, raised by a single mother, who was much more of a father than she was a mother. So I think John grew up, in those times, with those empathetic and emotional conversations are already so few and far between… they have so much love for each other, but they’re at a point where John’s use for her is changing, and I think that’s a really hard place for her as a Mom. For a Mom, or any parent, it’s difficult when your role as your parent starts to change what your child needs from you.
Will we be seeing either of Mary’s parents?
I hope so. We’re on the search for Samuel right now. Whether we find Samuel is to be determined, but I would hope so. I think the more characters, the better.
What was it like to meet Jensen Ackles?
It was great. I wasn’t just meeting a producer; I was meeting somebody that I had grown up watching, and mirroring so much of what they do as an actor…. So meeting him was super surreal.
I met him, and his wife, and one of the producers of the show, all for dinner, and in very Jensen fashion just… look, dude was like a frickin’ stud. I mean, he did the whole slow motion head turn, and then he stood up, and he is a lot taller than I expected. I guess Jared is to blame for that. He’s such an incredible guy. Bro-ey in the best way possible.
Was it surreal seeing him reunited with Jared and Misha at the CW Upfront in May?
Oh, yeah. It was hard to focus. I was trying to do interviews and I was having Misha right behind me, and I just spaced.
It’s surreal to see these people that you grew up watching, and now getting to work with them, and with Jensen, not just getting to work with him, put to play his freakin’ Dad… there’s that on top of it.
You sort of answered this a little bit earlier. but do you have a dream guest star you’d like to see on the series?
Outside of Sam and Dean, outside of Samantha [Smith] and Jeffrey, I would have to say I’d really love to work with Loki (Richard Speight Jr.). That would be incredible. Mark Pellegrino will be also so much fun. Obviously the rules that have to be a little rewritten for his meat suit to be available, but that would be an incredible character to play with. Or Crowley, maybe Rowena… any of them would be incredible.
Does someone need to know the lore of Supernatural to be able to follow and enjoy this show?
No, actually. I think one of the one of the goals that we have is to make it so interesting to people who do know [Supernatural], because you’ll obviously all these little things that we talk about are going to mean so much more, but if you’re just a new viewer, we’re trying to have the balance of giving the fans what they want, but also doing things in a way where new viewers can develop their own relationship to this world the same way that the fans of Supernatural did. That’s the beauty: Trying to build a new fan base and appease the current fan base.
Supernatural as a franchise is something that once you’re in it, you’re in it for life. Are you ready for the conventions and the lifelong fandom?
You know, they only tell you that after you book the role!
Yeah, I’m so excited. Everyone’s been so warm, and so kind. Every aspect of this has just been incredible, and I’ve only seen the smallest glimpse so far of what that world is like. It looks massively intimidating, but also just extremely fun. I’m incredibly blessed to be a part of it.
Have you met or heard from Jeffrey Dean Morgan or Matt Cohen yet?
I have not met or heard from either. I’d love to talk to either of them, anytime.
The show takes place 50 years ago. Is there any style from that era that just was weird for you to wear or interact with?
Bell bottoms!
I’ve had many a talk with with the wardrobe team on series and I’m like, “do not put me in bell bottoms!” I hate them so much. I don’t want to wear those again.
What it was like to work with Glen Winter as director for the pilot?
I’m proud to say Glen Winter is a friend and not just a director for me. He creates such a warm environment. He really cares about what he’s doing, and he will take time to make sure it’s done right. And as you’ve seen the pilot… it looks incredible. That’s all him at the end of the day. We’re just people saying stuff, words on paper. He’s in charge of making it look good. And yeah, he’s an incredible commander, incredible captain, and really knows how to command the ship.
What do you hope the audience gets out of watching The Winchesters on October 11 and beyond?
Obviously I’m hoping that the audience just gets attached. I’m hoping that they enjoy the show. I’m hoping it’s something that they’ll want to keep coming back for.
To me, it’s story about family. It’s a story about love, and the complexities of what that means. In this world, it’s not just love, there’s a whole supernatural element to it. Personally, in my eyes, it’s a story about the degradation of John Winchester and the fate that Mary Winchester is seemingly doomed to repeat.
The Winchesters premieres Tuesday, October
2 Comments
Great interview! I feel I got to know a bit more of Drake and his experiences in playing John. As a loooong time fan of @CW_SPN and EVERY character to appear, with Jensen and Jared as my favorite. I’m super stoked to see (and welcome) the new actors and crew.
Drake me tioned that he hopes viewers will be hooked or drawn in during the episode. I gotta tell ya, I’ve been hooked since the first trailer! The look, the feel and the acting! Yep! I’m all in!
You’re all gonna do the @SPNFamily proud. I can feel it!
Oh, one last thing Drake. Bell bottoms rock! Although, if you haven’t seen or heard of “elephant bells”, beware! They’re HUGE bell bottoms! The bell actually begins above the knee and flare much wider.